Mandibular positioning device for continuous positive airway pressure therapy equipment

Abstract

A mandibular positioning device for use with headgear for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (“CPAP”) therapy face masks. The device can be integrated with existing headgear to maintain the position of a user's mandible during sleep while using CPAP therapy in order to prevent displacement of the user's face mask as a result of a posterior shift of the mandible. The device can include a pair of saddles for attaching the device to headgear, as well as a support strap which attaches to each saddle and which has a medial portion disposed underneath the user's chin when worn.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for stabilizing a mandibular position during CPAP therapy, comprising:
 a) a first saddle and a second saddle, each comprising i) a proximal portion having a first headgear fastener and ii) a distal portion having a second headgear fastener and a support strap fastener; and   b) a support strap comprising i) a first end having a fastener configured to engage said support strap fastener of said first saddle and ii) a second end having a fastener configured to engage said support strap fastener of said second saddle;   wherein said first saddle is configured to receive a first lateral arm of a headgear device within an opening disposed between said proximal portion and said distal portion of said first saddle,   wherein said second saddle is configured to receive a second lateral arm of said headgear device within an opening disposed between said proximal portion and said distal portion of said second saddle,   wherein said first headgear fastener and said second headgear fastener of said first saddle are configured to retain said first lateral arm of said headgear device within said opening, and   wherein said first headgear fastener and said second headgear fastener of said second saddle are configured to retain said second lateral arm of said headgear device within said opening.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a vertical width of said first saddle increases from an anterior end to a posterior end. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a width of said support strap increases from each of said first end and said second end toward a medial portion of said support strap. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said support strap further comprises a plurality of removable partitions at said first end for adjusting a length of said support strap. 
     
     
         5 . A system for stabilizing a mandibular position during CPAP therapy, comprising a mandibular positioning apparatus and a headgear device having a first lateral arm and a second lateral arm, said apparatus comprising:
 a) a first saddle and a second saddle, each comprising i) a proximal portion, ii) a distal portion, iii) a pair of headgear fasteners, and iv) a support strap fastener; and   b) a support strap comprising i) a first end removably engaged with said first saddle and ii) a second end removably engaged with said second saddle;   wherein said first lateral arm of said headgear device is retained within an opening between said proximal portion and said distal portion of said first saddle, and   wherein said second lateral arm of said headgear device is retained within an opening between said proximal portion and said distal portion of said second saddle.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said headgear device further comprises a third lateral arm and wherein a first portion of said support strap is disposed underneath said third lateral arm. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said headgear device further comprises a fourth lateral arm and wherein a second portion of said support strap is disposed underneath said third lateral arm. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said headgear device further comprises a top arm extending between said first lateral arm and said second lateral arm. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein, near said first saddle, a longitudinal axis of said top arm is aligned with a longitudinal axis of said support strap. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein an elongated edge of said support strap is about parallel to an elongated edge of said top arm of said headgear device. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said support strap fastener of each saddle is aligned with said top arm of said headgear device. 
     
     
         12 . A method for engaging a mandibular positioning apparatus to a headgear device,
 said device having a plurality of lateral arms and said apparatus comprising a first saddle, a second saddle, and a support strap,   said method comprising the steps of:
 a) separating, along a top edge of each saddle, a proximal portion and a distal portion of each saddle to expose an opening therebetween; 
 b) positioning a first of said lateral arms of said headgear device within said opening of said first saddle; 
 c) positioning a second of said lateral arms of said headgear device within said opening of said second saddle; 
 d) joining, along said top edge of each saddle, said proximal portion and said distal portion of each saddle; 
 e) positioning a first portion of said support strap underneath a third of said lateral arms of said headgear device; 
 f) positioning a second portion of said support strap underneath a fourth of said lateral arms of said headgear device; 
 g) engaging a first end of said support strap to said first saddle; and 
 h) engaging a second end of said support strap to said second saddle. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein, before the step of engaging said first end of said support strap to said first saddle, a length of said support strap is adjusted by removing at least one partition from an end of said support strap. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said step of separating said proximal portion and said distal portion of each saddle comprises disengaging a first headgear fastener on each proximal portion from a second headgear fastener on each distal portion. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said step of joining said proximal portion and said distal portion of each saddle comprises attaching said first headgear fastener to said second headgear fastener. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said step of engaging said first end of said support strap to said first saddle comprises attaching a fastener on said first end to a first support strap fastener on said proximal portion of said first saddle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said headgear device further comprises a top arm extending between said first of said lateral arms and said second of said lateral arms and wherein said step of positioning said first of said lateral arms of said headgear device within said opening of said first saddle comprises aligning said first support strap fastener with said top arm. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said step of engaging said second end of said support strap to said second saddle comprises attaching a fastener on said second end to a second support strap fastener on said proximal portion of said second saddle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said headgear device further comprises a top arm extending between said first of said lateral arms and said second of said lateral arms and wherein said step of engaging said first end of said support strap to said first saddle comprises aligning said support strap with said top arm. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said step of engaging said first end of said support strap to said first saddle comprises aligning a longitudinal axis of said support strap with a longitudinal axis of said top arm.